MSSA

[Megageth]

I saw Drag posting links to a discussion on the MSSA and I feel like we should discuss it as a clan and decide on a course of action/inaction.
Basically we can form or join a club and get involved with the voting processes at MSSA or stay clear.

The top thread is quite long, please read it though and importantly the posts from Chaosad, Colin, Ryan and Tiger
MSSA Discussion

This one is a vote thread on a course of action.
MSSA Vote

Please post your opinions here, lets keep em shortish and if there are other options you think we should pursue let me know and I will add them to the voting choices.

[NoMaD]

i skeem we should join up as a group, mobalize the large gaming community so that we can have a say with the direction of things. is there a fee we have to pay?

[Megageth]

Ya, membership fees are I believe around R60 a year per person. I can see long term potential for gaming in general if we mobilise and start the process of change within MSSA but the only tangible benefits I see are national colours/representation and potential sponsorship.
I will go along with whatever the majority votes for but personally I dont have the time to commit to a national team even if I did make it and sponsorship is possible without MSSA.

As has been mentioned countless times in the SGS threads, if we do join MSSA, we would have to learn their procedures and be active to reap any rewards.

[J_Th4ng]

I tend to agree Geth. Although, if you read my posts on the SGS threads, I'm coming across in support of the community joining MSSA, it's simply as a means to resolve all of the hostility with proactive action. I'm certainly not interested in national colours or international competition, but I do believe that it's the way forward for eSports in SA.

I'd be happy to pay the fees as a club member, and vote on the real issues. However, I certainly wouldn't want to get involved as a committee member or anything like that.

[s3xy_j0nny]

I'd be happy to pay the fees as a club member, and vote on the real issues. However, I certainly wouldn't want to get involved as a committee member or anything like that.

Ditto.

[Paul]

Can I be honest? I don't see the benefit of MSSA.

Lets say we (as in the BF/SGS gaming community) join MSSA and have a voice there. What is this going to help or improve?

Most of our gaming activities have no bearing on MSSA and vice versa, except for the National colours, as Jarrod pointed out most of us don't really care about it.

[Stu]

Firstly No you can't be honest! So shut your face! j/k

Ok I see your point! I am of the mind that it may attract additional investment / sponsorship within the E-Gaming community, If we make it as accredited as possible!

The benefit is the Government/ is behind MSSA but it offers the opportunity of developing the community.

[Paul]

Stu do you really want the government involved with gaming? They already screw up enough.

MSSA stands for Mind Sports of South Africa, these means stuff like chess, scrabble etc

I don't see these types of games (not that there is anything wrong with them) having enough in common with online gaming to warrant a joint association. If the gaming community was serious about progressing gaming in South Africa I see the two best options would be

* Create a separate Association from scratch, this would then, with a lot of work become the National Standard purely by it’s size. I think that is how most unions/associations become official. If they ahve enough support then they become the default.
* Work with existing institutions like SGS/DoGaming, iGame, WAGE etc, become more involved in that and mould them to what you want. Yes I know these are private/corporate companies and are there to make money or have a specific purpose. But you can leverage off their structure and systems until it becomes big enough to break away.

All of the options though would mean that a considerable amount of the community would have to be active and dedicate time to whatever association institution and I just don't see that happening. I consider myself to be a typical gamer and I know I do not have the time or energy to get involved.

I am willing to put time into this clan but not further than that. Yes that is right I am lazy

[Megageth]

Yes, we would all like to see the benefits of computer gaming recognised and supported by the MSSA.
No, noone wants to sit around a table explaining punkbuster to people who play with figurines.

My 2c is that unless you are willing to engage with MSSA in 90% futile, 10% constructive dialogue then you are not willing to support MSSA, only benefit from it, and you will find out soon enough that the MSSA teat is dryer than towel, in a desert, under a sun lamp, after a late night out.

To sum up, this thread is not simply asking whether you think joining MSSA is good for you, its whether you are willing to first pay yearly fees, then get involved with club politics and then get involved with MSSA politics. There will be no free rides.

PS Some of the comments so far suggest that some may have not bothered reading the links in the first post. If that is the case then really, lets be honest, you aren't that interested, save your breath, vote no.

[flycatchr]

Does anyone know what MSSA thinks of US joining them?
I would rather join an existing bigger maturer structure than have the community try make their own. I have seen peeps fighting/name calling/bitching making associations that never worked. (paintball)
The only real question is - would we be fairly recognized and represented.